Oscar Night 2010

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There was much cause for celebration during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards on Sunday nightÂ--like when Jeff Bridges ("El Duderino") accepted his much-deserved statue, Sandra Bullock's sweet speech, and Kathryn Bigelow's history-making winsÂ--but for us, the biggest moments aren't usually linked to the show itself. While the rest of the world watches and waits for the winners to be announced, we're more focused on what the night will bring in terms of fashion achievements! This year we were delighted to see some super-strong and surprising red carpet looks at the Oscars and even more thrilled to note all of the gorgeous gowns at the after-parties. Per WhoWhatWear.com tradition, today's What They Wore: Oscar Night includes a few of the big night's best gowns, but we also focused on the marvelous dresses worn to the many notable fetes around town. Hopefully you'll find a few fresh favorites in the mix!

Rachel McAdams
One of the most interesting trends on the Oscar red carpet was the preponderance of prints and patterns. Rachel McAdams showed off her version of the look when she arriving wearing an Elie Saab Spring 2010 Haute Couture strapless gown with Sergio Rossi slingback platform pumps in blush satin and Lorraine Schwartz jewels. The soft pastel hues and hand-pleated bodice look wonderfully romantic on McAdams and so seasonally chic too.

Carey Mulligan
Carey Mulligan has knocked us out with her interesting red carpet choices for months now. Unsurprisingly, she kept that momentum going at the Oscars when she selected a black strapless Prada dress with a sweetheart neckline covered in original embroidery, jet-black flower-shaped Swarovski crystals, and tiny metal forks, knives, and watch-gears. While her gown was undoubtedly modern, Mulligan went old-world with her jewelry choices, which included a selection of Fred Leighton pieces from the 19th century. She completed her big-night ensemble with a simple black satin hard-case clutch and pleated platform heelsÂ--both by Prada.

Amanda Seyfried
While we were wowed by Seyfried's early-evening outfit choiceÂ--a Giorgio Armani Prive strapless princess gownÂ--her late-night frock was equally festive. For the Vanity Fair festivities, Seyfried kept her Lorraine Schwartz diamond cuffs, but swapped her full skirt for a short and flirty Valentino Haute Couture dress from the S/S 10 collection and metallic Ferragamo heels. The jade green mini was a much more danceable choice and, thanks to its unusual color, a uniquely stylish selection too.

Nicole Richie
From the multi-color vintage sequins to the kimono sleeves to the low-cut back, Nicole Richie's Reem Acra gown was a total knockout on every level. Even better: Richie played up the statement dress with a strongly sophisticated beauty look. We loved her exaggerated cat-eye shadow and oversized ballerina bunÂ--the combo is perfectly glam. Though you can't see either in this image, she also carried a Judith Leiber bag and wore Bally platform slingbacks in silver leather.

Kate Bosworth
In addition to prints, we also adored the preponderance of textured frocks on Oscar night, like the heavenly coral silk organza Valentino Pre-Fall 10 gown Kate Bosworth selected for the big VF fete. The single-sleeve confection was pleated and ruffled to wonderful effect and allowed to take the full spotlight, thanks to an understated beauty and accessories regime. Underneath the gown La Boz went a bit wild; the style star wore a pair of Jimmy Choo's jeweled platform sandals, a cage-style heel that was also selected by Hilary Swank!

Jennifer Lopez
We would expect nothing less than a supersized style statement from Jennifer Lopez and she certainly delivered on Oscar night when she traded her ceremony frock (an ethereal icy pink Giorgio Armani Prive evening dress) for a darkly dramatic Gucci gown. Thanks to a cut-out silhouette and bold feather details at the shoulder, the dress, which is from the fashion house's Pre-Fall 10 collection, embodies traditional Hollywood glamour in a completely modern way. In short: it's the perfect style choice for a showstopper like Lopez!

Diane Kruger
What would a big red-carpet roundup be without the amazing Ms. Kruger? Incomplete, we dare say, and certainly less stylish in her absence. After all, when a woman can carry off an ornate Chanel gown and a sleek Calvin Klein Collection cocktail dress in the space of just a few hours, you know she's one to watch. On that note, we swooned over the red organdy frock Kruger selected for the post-ceremony party circuit, which was custom made for her by Francisco Costa, Calvin Klein Collection's supremely talented Creative Director. The dress is the perfect counterpoint to the evening's more voluminous offerings and yet another notch in Kruger's super-chic belt.

Maggie Gyllenhaal
Of all the many marvelous ensembles on Oscar night, we think Maggie Gyllenhaal's might be the best of the best. Her hand-painted Dries Van Noten dress just floored us with its vibrant print, bold palette, and slim column shape. Also noteworthy: all the finishing touches, from her bright pink lips (NARS Lipstick in Schiap) to her Fred Leighton jewelry, which included 19th century ivory and diamond earrings, a yellow gold and diamond bracelet from the 1940s, and a diamond bracelet from the 1920s. All in all, it was a tip-top fashion night for Gyllenhall and one of our favorites looks!

Cameron Diaz
Major metallic moments seemed to be Cameron Diaz's motto on Sunday night, as she toggled from a breathtaking champagne-colored Oscar de la Renta strapless gown to a slim-fit Victoria Beckham sheath. As for the latter, which Diaz wore for all the after-parties, we were quite impressed with the double-sided metallic jacquard asymmetrical corset dress; the flawless fit coupled with classic accessories (a Judith Leiber bag, Brian Atwood shoes, and Cartier jewels) made for a very memorable party moment!

Zoe Kravitz
We've noticed that young actresses sometimes seem to have difficulty translating their off-duty personal style to the red carpet. Happily, Zoe Kravitz seems to know just what to do, as her Oscar-night outfit suggests. The dutiful daughter (there supporting her father, Lenny Kravitz) parlayed her boho sensibilities via a velvet-topped Alexis Mabille Haute Couture dress and a hefty handful of Fred Leighton vintage diamond baubles. The final result is totally appropriate for the occasion, yet still retains some of her haute hippie sensibilities, a fine pairing indeed.

Anna Kendrick
Though Anna Kendrick is a relative newcomer to the awards-show circuit, she's acquitted herself beautifully all season long. She showed off two remarkable looks on Sunday night, both by Elie Saab Haute Couture; first a cap-sleeve draped dress in barely-there pink, followed by our featured look, an ultra-textured white cocktail frock with a lace neck, chiffon bodice, and a feathered skirt. Extras came in the form of Daniel Swarovski's silver crystal mesh clutch and Sergio Rossi ivory satin peep-toe platform pumps.

Photo of Nicole Richie, from INF; Photo of Rachel McAdams, from Getty Images.